Epistemology of Information Science: Evolution of research and its referencial bases

Abstract

The present research analyzes the evolution of scientific production on the epistemology in the area of Information Science. It also seeks to present prominent authors and the main referencials used in the selected articles. Asks whether the increase in the number of articles publications on epistemology can mean the consolidation of a research community. By extension, presents the possibility of identifying philosophical and scientific traditions through the referencials of a corpus of analysis. It defends the hypothesis that the increase of the production on epistemology in Information Science indicates the recognition and relevance of this subject in the last years. Surveys were carried out in 30 scientific journals of Information Science, from 1972 to 2015, and 164 articles were selected for the analysis. The distribution of selected articles evidenced a significant increase in research from 2004. Faced with the increase in production, the general framework of authors and referencials stands out for the tradition, plurality and constant updating of their points of view. Highlights the need to encourage the spontaneous nature of research on the subject in the universe of undergraduate and postgraduate studies. It concludes that there is an indicative of consolidation of the research and, mainly, the formation of a scientific community around the epistemology of Information Science.